“From a small-town girl with big dreams to wearing the India jersey with pride. Grateful for everything cricket gave me the lessons, the people, the memories. It’s time to say goodbye to playing, but not to the game. Always for India. Always for the team,” she said in a social media post.
The 32-year-old, who is married to former Karnataka cricketer Arjun Hoysala, last played for the country during the women’s T20 World Cup final against Australia at Melbourne in 2020. Her last one-day international was in 2018.
“A small-town girl with big dreams. That’s how it all started in Kadur. I picked up a bat not knowing where it would take me. But I knew I loved the game. I never imagined it would take me this far from narrow streets to the biggest stadiums, from quiet hopes to proudly wearing the Indian jersey,” Veda wrote.
“Cricket gave me so much more than just a career. It gave me a sense of who I am. It taught me how to fight, how to fall and how to keep showing up. Today, with a full heart, I’m calling time on this chapter.” Known for her hard-hitting ways with the bat, Veda’s last competitive game was for Gujarat Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in last year’s Women’s Premier League.
Veda, who captained Karnataka and Railways, was also a lively fielder, and holds the joint record for the highest number of catches by a non-wicketkeeper in a Women’s T20I.
But more than those numbers, Veda’s story was also one of grit and fight as she lost her mother Cheluvamaba Devi and sister Vatsala Shivakumar during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She did not forget them in the farewell note.
“To my parents and siblings, especially my sister, thank you for being my first team and my constant strength. To my coaches, captains and mentors, thank you for shaping me.
“To BCCI, thank you for trusting me with the honour of representing India. To KSCA, Railways and KIOC, thank you for giving me the space to grow. To my teammates, you made every bit of this journey worth it. We’ve shared everything – wins, losses and laughs that will stay with me forever.
“You were never just teammates. You were family. To my friends, thank you for being there, especially when no one was watching,” she added.
Veda, who is already dabbling with commentary, termed the 2017 50-over Women’s World Cup, in which India lost to England in the final, as one of the brightest chapters in her career.
“And 2017… what a year to be part of a World Cup that changed how people saw women’s cricket in India. I’ll always be proud of that. Captaining Karnataka and Railways was an honour I’ll always hold close.
“Those teams shaped me, challenged me, and gave me space to lead with heart. And India… nothing comes to the feeling of wearing that jersey. The anthem, the Adrenaline, the pride – it lives in your bones forever,” she added. PTI UNG APA APA
